Once upon a time lamayuru was inundated in a lake, or so the legend goes. Arahat Madhyantika prophesied that one day the lake would be dried and a monastery would be made here.

In the 11th century came a Buddhist saint to meditate in a nearby cave, mystical Mahasiddha Naropa, who with his prayers miraculously invoked the water to dwindle away and made the place into a sacred land.

Well preserved cave is still stands and is the part of the main shrine of Lamayuru Monastery. In 1038, Rinchen Zangpo, a great translator, built five temples at Lamayuru, only one is in perfect condition today.

Monastery’s impeccable building stands hither…

I love looking at these murals at the entrance of the monasteries. I just sit there and let them take my mind on a journey through the story, they depict.
So far, i m just trying to figure out much about them reading here and there. You know the stuff.

Tantric Protectors…

Human ant house monastery as I call it, which seems to be on the mounds of earth.

To add all up just like ants, Monks live in a community and work for the greater good. They function as parts of a whole.

While driving upto Lamayuru you will cross Fotu la 4,108m (13,479 ft)

It is the Highest point on Srinagar-Leh Highway of the Himalayan Zanskar Range.
There is a rainbow colored mountain, which i found absolutely breathtaking.

Then there was a lone cloud on top of the mountain in the clear blue sky, which was adorable

The valley itself is so vast that i just kept my face out the window trying to take it all in and clicking away like a crazed dog wanting for air.

Mountains had so many beautiful arrays of color as if an artist poured mix of liquid acrylic color over few of them. Pure love from my side…

“I like the mountains because they make me feel small,’ Jeff says. ‘They help me sort out what’s important in life.” — Mark Obmascik

It’s a modest little town in Uttarakhand on the way to Gangotri. We took a taxi from Uttarkashi to reach Harshil.

By the time we reached Harshil sun was out of the reach behind the mountains and it was set beforehand for this little town….

The allure of the gushing Bhagirathi river through the town is harmony in the notes of the nature. Just like the keys of piano you will hear the perfect symphony among the environment, water, animals.

Just like the keys of piano you will hear the perfect symphony among the environment, water, animals.

How the Bhagirathi flows with gusto…

While we were roaming and experimenting with the photos, a companion presented himself out of nowhere and followed us all the way to the next village and it was helpful in the dark to have a dog lead on and see to it that you are protected. How I would have liked to bring him back to delhi but I figured with all his fur, he could not adapt to the Delhi’s summers.

I named him Hachi for being loyal.

We hoped for snow as it was end of December but you know global warming, so it was late as we were told at the night by the villagers. There was chilly wind so we all cramped together around the can of burning hot red coal and talked about for an hour.

That clear sky. I even saw a shooting star there…

“The core of mans’ spirit comes from new experiences.” — Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild.